STATE AND DRINK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11505, 29 September 1915, Page 4

STATE AND DRINK.

RESTRICTIONS FOR SCOTLAND

The Liquor Traffic Board of Control, says the "Times'' Parliamentary correspondent, has denned two large areas in Scotland in \fliich the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor shall be controlled by tho State "on the ground that war material is being made, loaded, unloaded, and dealt with therein." Its decisions will be published in a few days in the " London Gazette." The board lias resolved to deal in a very drastic way with the industrial districts of Scotland. The problem which it was set to solve had, its origin ill the Clydo strikes, and it was a foregono conclusion that tho Glasgow district would be carved out into a Statecontrolled area. The actual area wlncn the board has decided to schedule is far larger than had been expected. It consists of the counties of Lanark, Renfrew, Dumbarton, Ayr and Stirling. Glasgow is the geographical centre of this area. Edinburgh stands in the. same relation to a second area which; the board have decided to schedule. 1 This is to include the three Lothians, Haddington, Edinburgh, and Lirlir'igow, and the counties of Fife, Clackmannan and Kinross. It is practically certain that a third area, based on Dundee and Aberdeen, will be scheduled later on. This means that the liquor trade in virtually the whole of industrial Scotland will be under State control. The board has also settled the restrictions which are to be applied to the scheduled areas. It has decided not to accede to the demands which have been made for the complete prohibition of spirits. There will be drastio restrictions on the sale of spirits, and in this, as in other respects, the Order will follow closely on the precedent set in the Newhaven area. The hours during which intoxicating liquor may bo sold in licensed premises and clubs will bo restricted to 4$ on week days, and treatng and credit will be prohibited.